Wind indicator for landing fields



INVENTDR A O BY AEL ATTORN EY Jan. 2s, 1932. i A. DE WEER@ 1,843,016

WIND INDICATOR FOR LANDING FIELDSA Filed Dec. 18. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O i. oOo-o OROO-EVELTO@ @go /5 6 ATTO R NEY G I BY O o G G lNvl-:N'roR O g O Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE ALBERT IDE WEERD, ROOSEVELT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR F ONE-EIGHTH TO JOI-IN S. ORUGER, OF ROOSEVELT, NEW YORK y i WIND INDICATOR FOR LANOING- FIELDS Application filed December 18, 1928.

This invention relates to a wind indicator for landing fields, the general object of the invention being to provide a member operated by the wind and located a distance from the field and a plurality of groups of lamps located in the field, each group, when light* ed, forming illuminated means for indicating to the pilot the direction of the wind, with means for closing the circuits of the lamps of l0 the groups by the wind operated member whereby that group of lamps, the circuit of e which is closed by the wind operated member, will point in the same direction as said member, so that the pilot can ascertain the direction the wind is blowing before landing.

Another object of the invention is to provide illuminated means for indicating the name of the field.

Y This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to

be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the lamp carrying means for indicating the direction the wind is blowing.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the wind opery ated means and the circuit closing means op erated thereby.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the indicating means.

In these drawings, the letter A indicates a casing placed on a suitable base arranged on the field, this casing including the cenr, tral circular part 10, the radiating arms 11 and the enlarged parts 12 at the outer ends of the arms. Each arm and its enlarged part 12 forms an arrowsl1aped member. I prefer to so' arrange these arrow-shaped members that they point one to the north, one to the east, one to the south and one to the west,

Serial No. 326,811.

with the intermediate members pointing respectively to the northeast, southeast,'s 0uth west and northwest. The top of the casing is formed of transparent material and a group of lamps 13 is arranged in each arrowshaped member, as shown.

A mast 14 is also placed outside the field -androtatably supports at its upper end an varrow 15 or other wind operated member,

also connected by the conductors 2O with a line wire 21. Thus it will be seen that the movement of the member 15 by the wing will cause the brush 17 to pass over the commutator so that the circuit of the group of lamps will be closed in that arrow-shaped member which is pointing in the same direction as the arrow 15. Thus the pilot of the flying machine can ascertain in which direction the wind is blowing over the field so that he can head his ship in the proper direction in landlng.

I also arranve on the central part 10 of the casinof the illuminated letters 22 which indicate tne name of the field.

Vhile the drawings show the casing composed` of eight arrow-shaped members numbered from 1 to S respectively and the same number of sections 18 in the commutator which are also numbered from 1 to 8 respectively, it will, of course, be understood th at any desired number of these members may be used.

The wires to the commutator may pass through the mast which is made hollow for this purpose, and in this case, the second line wire 23 would be connected with the rotary su port 24 of the arrow-shaped member.

y arranging the mast outside the field, or a distance from the field, there is no danger of the aircrafts striking the mast while landing or taking ofl", and thus being damaged by the mast.

I prefer to so arrange the arrows formed by the casing and its lights that they point to the main runways of the field so that the Idevice forms a Wind indicator, a field indiprovided that such changes Afall within thev scope of the appended claim` l/Vhat I claim is A wind indicator for landing fields coniprising circular arranged contacts insulated from each other and each electrically connected to a signal, an extension rising above the contacts and centrally thereof, a wind actuated member journalled on the extension, a brush arm electrically connected to the signal and carried by the wind actuated member and having an opening, abrush slidable in the opening to engage the contacts during the rotation of said wind actuated member, and a spring secured to the arm and bearing against the brush to urge the latter toward the contacts. Y e

ln testimony whereof l aiiX my signature.

ALBERT DE WEERD. 

